Review of Hydrofarm FLCDG125D Fluorowing Compact Fluorescent System w/CFL Bulb

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List Price: $64.99
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Okay that title is a bit much. But this lamp makes me happy. At only 125 watts, I finally have something that works, unlike those lights which call themselves the sun then fail to make my plants want to do anything other than shrivel up and die.

It turns out that, for me, I can't use just LEDs and had to supplement them with 100-watt equivalent flouros I'd bought from Home Depot. This was okay, but awkward to adjust and aim the light.

So I got this thing and hung it, and it works beautifully for about three flower pots, all I need.

Then, when I had to move it, I found I could just set it on the desk upright, not even hanging, and arrange my plants around it, and it still works. The plants are growing better than ever, in a very small space, and I didn't even have to hang the thing.

It's cheap, it's sturdy, and it takes hardly any wattage. It is, in effect, awesome.

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Arrived in good condition. It's hard to imagine how it could get broken the way it was packed; very professional packaging. The quality is good and the unit works as expected. Bright enough for my small (1.25' X 4') hydroponic lettuce garden. For a small area or for supplemental light in a larger area, this unit is perfect. It is nice that it can handle a 200W fluorescent bulb and comes with bulb supports for both the 125W and 200W bulbs.

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Easy to assemble, super bright natural light. Within a week I see the plants looking towards this lamp as it has a light spectrum closer to the sun than anything else I have. Will get another one soon.

UPDATE: 4/15/2010:: Bought a second unit via Amazon.. They must have recently changed design as now it is a bit different from the picture. Exactly same bulb(very bright/very good) but the mogel base is different. The older design (pictured) has elongated base with the electrical cord coming out of the rear totally clearing the back of the dew guard (reflector). This allowed the unit to be flush against a wall (vertical mount)or ceiling (horizontal mount) or on any flat surface and project its light outwards.

The new version: the rear end is shorter and the electrical cord is coming out of the back. This causes the unit to not be able to lie completely flush against any surface. Out-of-the-box it will be tilted some at best. To remedy this, I bent slightly the bulb base metal where the mogel base is soldered to the reflector. This did solve the problem but I appreciate the older design more. The newer design makes the whole unit an inch or so shorter, probably to be able to fit into a smaller box. Anyways it appears to be working just as well. Again easy to assemble and super bright natural looking light.

Originally gave it 5 stars. With the design change I still give it 5 stars as it was easy to modify w/o tools. If you are going to suspend from the hanger hooks then the design change doesn't matter at all. Still a great reflectorized grolight on the cheap...

Honest reviews on Hydrofarm FLCDG125D Fluorowing Compact Fluorescent System w/CFL Bulb

4 months into using this product

The price is still right compared to other higher end similar products.

The housing does not reflect much light outward to the sides.

The bulb it came with seems to be beginning to separate the lower tubes appear to be pointing downward at about 10-15 degrees and the top half of tubes have simply stopped working. its been on a fairly light on/off rotation.

i would recommend this product at this time just buy a second bulb in case the original begins to show trouble like mine half way through the life-cycle of your plants.

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I bought this item because my tropical White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Nicolai) needed more light than my window allowed. My lucky bamboo, spider plant, chinese evergreen, and Dusty Miller all showed significant signs of improvement. One thing to note on this light, is that it's not quite enough light if you want to grow more that 3 plants with it. There is a ratio of light distributed and light intensity when you raise and lower the light over the canopy. You have to find the balance your plants need, and if you want to do that easily I suggest you get the Hydrofarm hanging system with it because that thing is worry free and worth the money!

I recently upgraded to the 200W version and holy crap this bulb is easily 140% of the last one, in size, weight, and strength! It barely fits in the guard. Speaking of the guard, if you're buying this to save money on a eco-gro, you'll want to maximize your lumen output. I built a reflector system with poster-paper "drapes" that are coated with aluminum foil, and they work great! Easily DOUBLED light output, no joke, try it out. If you want to grow many plants with this I suggest you get one light to every FOUR plants. The 200W is a worthy upgrade.

It's awesome that there are 105W, 125W, and 200W versions. There are also 2700K, 3000K, 5000K, 6700K, and even 7000K on the Kelvin rating. That means if you get one of these, and then order a 2700K Compact Fluorescent bulb by Hydrofarm, you get a plant's full lifecycle of light needs. All for around $100. Can you beat that? The 125W is supposed to give off 7000 Lumens, and the 200W version gives off 10000 Lumens. Not bad!